Key for key-opening cans



May 15, 1928. 1,670,150

H. HERMANI KEY FOR KEY OPENING CANS Filed July 2o, 1927 n o 6 #5% 5,//5

l cn

Patented May 15, 1928.

HENRY RRRMANI, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AssreNoR To 'TRE TIN nEcoRATINcCOMPANY OF BALTIMORE, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION 0F .NEINvJERSEY.'

KEY FOR KEY-OPENIN G CANS.

v application ined J'uiy 20,

This invention is an improvement in keys for key opening cans, and inmethods for 4 holding the key in place on the cover of the can prior touse in removing the rip strip connecting the cover to the can body.

In cans provided with rip strips, itris yinvention is to provide aconstruction of' key, capable 0f being deformed into a condition ofsmaller outline than its normal state, and resilient to return to suchnormal state when released, whereb the key may be fitted into a recessand wi l be held therein by its own resiliency.

Another object is the provision of a key and a holding means therefor,so constructed and arranged that the key and Aits holding means will bewithin the overall dimensions of the can and out of position to be engaged by foreign bodieswhich might tend to dislodge the' same.

Another object isthe provision ofa key-of simple inexpensiveconstruction.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of'parts fully described hereinafter,illustrated in the accompanying "drawings, and pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, it being understood-that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scopeofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Fig. 1 is a si' e view 'of a rip strip can having parts broken away to.show the key.

Fig. A2 is a plan view of the can with the key in place.

Figs, 3 to 11 inclusive are plan views oil.A

alternate iconstructions 'of key.

1927. serial No. 207,262.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with acan composed of a body 1 of usual construction, and

a cover 2, which is connected to the can by a rip strip 3, having aprojecting tongue 4, to be engaged by the slot of the opening keytoremove the strip.

In the present construction the body 'of the can cover 2 is providedwith a central circular depression or recess 5 having walls parallelwith the'axis of the can cover, and f the key. is adapted -to bearranged within this recess, the recess being of a depth tov hold thekey inside the overall dimensions of the can and -below the level of thecover body, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

In allv of the constructions the key is v ent formed from a strip ofresilient metal to shape, the strip being in eifect a iattenedl wire andeach construction includes a handle portion and a shank having a slotfor engagement by the tongue.

The embodiment of key shown inFig. 2

lcomprises a shank portion 6 having the tongue engaging slot 7 and ahandle portion 8, which in the present instance is substantiallyS-shaped. The relative dimensions of the keyv and recess 5 are such thatthe key will engage 'within the recess, the

shank extending substantially dametrically A thereof, when the vhandle.portion is contracted, so that the outline of the key is smaller thannormal.

lThe contraction in the'present instance is i enabled by the movement ofthe parts of the S-shaped handle toward each other and toward the shank,and lboth extremities of the key engage the4 side wall of the recess asclearly shown. InFig. 3, the. key comprises a shank 9 and a handleportion 10, the handle portion being S-shaped like that shown in Fig. 2.The shank is similar to the shank of the key 67, but instead of beingslotted,

the extremity 11 of the shank is bent backr parallel with the bodyand inspaced parallel relation to provide a tongue engaging slot 12. The onlydiifer'ence between the saidA key and that of Fig. 2 is in thevprovision for. the slot.

' In Fig. 4 the key y the strip upon itself to provide the shank, theextremity ofthe strip being bent out.

is formed by doubling wardly at substantially right angle from the ishank to the handle portion. The similar portions '13-13.l of the stripforming theshank are spaced apart from each other t0 -provide the slot14 for the rip strip, tongue, while the ends of the strip -15acooperating to form the handle portion are in sub-4 stantial alinement.The provision of the slot 14 also enables the keyy to be contracted, bymoving the elements 15-15" toward each other. Further contraction isenabled by movement of the portions 15--15'L toward the shank. In thepresent instance the extremities of 'the strip engage the recess wall.

. The Fig. 5 construction is similar to that of Fig. 4 consisting of theshank 16-16a and the handle portion 17-17a. The ex- Y tremities of thestrip are however bent latcated at 18 and 18a.

erally with respect to the portions 17--17Il away from the portions16-16, as indi- A better grip is thus provided on the handle portion,but the construction is otherwise the same as that of away from theshank. The doubling of the strip to form the shank provides for thetongue engaging slot in the same manner as the constructions of Figs. 4and 5. The arrangement in Fig. 6 provides for a slightl better grip, andfor somewhat more resiiency than the Fig. 4 construction and theextremities of the strip in the Fig. 6 -construction engage the wall ofthe recess.

YIn Fig. 7 the strip is doubled upon itself to form the shank 21, andthe extremities are reverselycurved as shown at 22 to provide the handleportion. This arrangement provides increased resiliency .and enables a vbetter grip on the handle portion. In Fig.

Y the key is in place..

8 the strip is doubled to form the shank 23, and the`y handle portions24l are formed by reversely bending the ends of the strip as in Fig. 7.In this construction, however, the extremities 25 of the strip lie onthe outer sides of the reversely bent portions from the shank, extendingtoward each other at substantially a right angle, thus increasing thearea ofthe handle portion, and also the resiliency of the key. Theresiliency is also increased by providingv an eye 26 at the end of theshank remote from the handle portion. In each of the constructions shownin Figures 4 to 8 inclusive the extremities of the strip bear againstthe recess wall when In Fig. 9 the key is formed l-)lyhdolliblilllge ean the strip to form the 27.v

portion 28 is in the form of a ring or. eye. The extremities ofthe stripare adjacent, as clearly shown, but are spaced slightly away from eachother to enable contraction of the ring when inserting the zkey intherecess'.

In Fig. 10 the shank 29 is formed in the same manner as in the Fig. 7construction, but the handle portion 30 is S-shaped, thusenabling-contraction in the same manner as in the Figs. 2 and 3constructions. In Fig. 1l the shank 31 is' formed in the same manner,and the handle is -a diamond shaped frame 32. The'extremities of thestripl are adjacent, but are spaced apart in the same manner as the Fig.9'construction to enable contraction of the key.

is inserted in the recess, by slightly contracting the same so that itwill fit therein, with the shank extending substantially diametrical tothe recess. The expansion of the -key'causes it to grip `the recess wallclosely, holding the key against accidental displacement, but allowingthe easy removal thereof when desired for use. v

In all ofthe constructionsl except that of Fig. -2 the tongue engagingslot is formed by the doubling of the material, so thatonly the tion ofthe key. It will be understood that the plane of the improved key ineach instance is in the plane of the strip.

It will be apparent from a consideration bending-operation is necessaryin the formaf of the rawing that the key is so shaped that when nsertedin the depression it will engage the wall thereof at a plurality ofpoints, andl will provide resiliency in the handle portion to enableshortening `of the distance between the points without lateral bendingof the shank. In Figs. 4 to 8 in# elusive and Fig. 10,' the key engagesat three points Kwhile in Figs. 2, 3, 9 and 10, the en agement is at-twopoints, namely the end o the shank and a part of in alinement therewith.1

In Figs. 3 to 11 inclusive the arrangement is such that the slot forreceiving the rip strip tongue is formed between parts of`mathe handleterial lying along side each other, thus to enable the formation of thekey without the necessity for punching a slot. In all ofv key foroperating the strip to open the can, the can having 1n the cover thereofa de pression with the side wall thereof straight and perpendicular tothe piane ofthe cover, and the key of a shape to received within thedepression with substantially opposite relatively minute portionsthereof engaging the recess wall and with a resilient portion betweensaid portions. 2. In combination, a rip strip can, and a 5 key foroperating the strip to open the can,

the can having 1n theA cover thereof a depression, and the key of a sizeto t within the depression and formed from a resilient piece so bentthat the key engages the depression wall at substantially oppositepoints, said Walls being straight and perpendicular to theplane of thecover, so that the key is held in the depression by the engaglzament ofsaid points with the depression wa Signed at Baltimore, State ofMaryland, this 18th day lof July, A. D. 1927.

HENRY HERMANI.

